Left Handed Larceny

The Big East
by Caleb Musselman

Photo Cred: www.sports-kings.com

Intro - Just a few short months ago, the hockey world was awoken from its slumber. Escaping from a lockout that threatened to give us a year without hockey, the NHL prepared for a 48 game season. Blink your eyes and blow your nose and the regular season is over. When hockey is usually getting into its most grueling weeks of the middle of the season, 16 teams are prepping for a run for the silver goblet of glory, the holy grail of hockey, Lord Stanley's blinged out cereal bowl. However, before one team fills it with jello and instagrams their puppy sleeping in it, we have some games to play. In fact, we have a lot of games to play. What's the West look like? Check out Eric's article about the Western match-ups (http://sportseyeview.blogspot.com/2013/04/left-handed-larceny_30.html). Now let's take a look at the East. Upsets? Star performances? Breakout rookies? Here we go. 

Penguins #1 vs. Islanders #8

Season Series - Penguins 4-1

I wrote in my Atlantic Division preview at the beginning of the year that I thought the Islanders were about one to two years away from a playoff run. Well, I may have been slightly wrong but I don't think this will be a run. This will be more of a jog for the other team from New York. After the Flyers and Devils wet the bed, the Islanders practically walked into the 3rd spot in the Atlantic. A team with outstanding young talent and more speed and spunk than a youth soccer team, the Islanders have taken giant strides in their development as a franchise. Problem: They have to play the Penguins in the first round. On par with the Blackhawks as the most dominant team of 2013, the Penguins are downright scary. With 8 to 1 odds of winning the Cup at the beginning of the year, the Pens took their premium squad and shot steroids into it. With the addition of Iginla, Morrow, Jokinen and Murray, the Penguins are sure-fire favorites to win the East. So what will this match-up look like? 

Photo Cred: www.zimbio.com

For a while near the end of the season, it looked like the Rangers were going to secure the 8th seed. That match-up should have caused the Pens to lose some sleep. However, with the Rangers and Islanders switching spots in the standings, they are most likely looking at an opening round exit. Without Crosby, I would expect the Pens to dominate the Islanders. With Crosby, I could see a few of these games being 3+ goal wins. Even with the offensive skill of the Islanders, Crosby and Co. have a clear advantage both offensively and defensively. Nabokov is historically a consistently inconsistent playoff performer and the Isles need him to play huge in this series if they hope to win a game. The titanic top 3 lines of the Penguins cause the likes of Tavares, Grabner, and Okposo to look like Bambis in a world of bucks.

Prediction - Crosby eases his way back into the mix and has a "quiet" 6 points in the series. Neal goes wrist-shot happy and lights the lamp 5 times. Malkin takes his poor grammar out on the Islanders and posts an average of 2 points a night. The Islanders come out quick at home in Game 3 or 4 and steal one from the Penguins on an off night for Fleury. In the end, Pittsburgh dominates and New York gains some valuable playoff experience. Sleeper performance - Brandon Sutter has a coming out party and averages over a point a night. Penguins win the series handily and move on to the next round.

Penguins 4-1

Canadiens #2 vs. Senators #7

Season Series - Tie 2-2
Oh Canada, why are there so many intra-divisional match-ups in the first round? One of two Northeast
first round match-ups, the Canadiens-Senators series is probably the least talked about series coming into the playoffs. Why? Is it because no one is giving either of these teams any credit? Probably. The simple fact of the matter is that Montreal has gone virtually unnoticed all season long. Quietly picking up the 3rd most victories in the league, the Canadiens feel they have something to prove. Part of the reason for not getting any attention is the fact that the Penguins have been so dominant. The other reason is that they fought Boston tooth and nail to see who could end the season on a worse note. Montreal, finishing the season 4-6 in their last ten barely squeaked out the division against a Bruins team who bled through the finish at 3-5-2. Everyone knows hockey is all about streaks and the Canadiens have given fans every reason to worry that their next streak will be how many birdies they have on the front 9.

Photo Cred: www.thefarmclub.net

On the other side of the puck, Ottawa is probably the second-most mediocre team in the playoff picture (behind NYI). I may sound harsh when talking about the East, but the truth must be spoken. Without the unbelievable goaltending that they received from a trio of studs (Anderson/Bishop/Lehner), the Senators would be playing pond hockey this week. They scored the least amount of goals out of any of the 16 playoff teams and were led in scoring by a rookie. It sounds like an exciting story but when you hear that he only scored 12 goals it sounds a little less enthralling. I could tell you I led my softball team in batting average but if I followed that up by telling you it's an over 60 league you'd be less impressed. They have problems scoring. Anderson had a 1.69 GAA this season and his record was only 12-9. That about sums it up. 

After all that negativity, this could be an interesting series. With both teams backed by solid goaltending and decent struggles in the scoring department, these games should be close and exciting.

Prediction - Montreal gets their act together in time to put an average Ottawa team to bed. Subban thrives and Pacioretty puts up some solid points.

Montreal 4-2

Capitals #3 vs. Rangers #6

Season Series - NYR 2-1

This match-up is easily the best of the East. An underperforming Rangers team meets a Capitals team who were brought back from the grave by the suddenly dominant Alex Ovechkin. In the first few weeks of the season, sports writers all across the nation were joking about how Ovechkin, the one trick pony, has finally been figured out. Well, I think the Ovechkin equation is a bit harder than everyone thought. Someone or something lit a fire underneath Ovechkin. He finished the year with 32 goals to lead all goal-scorers and pulled a struggling Caps team from the bottom of the conference to the 3rd seed in just over a month.

Photo Cred: www.rantsports.com

The Rangers, who were said to have the best line in hockey at the season opener with Richards,
Gaborik and Nash, have struggled to put things together this season. With consistently solid goaltending from Lundqvist (2.05 GAA), New York just couldn't score goals. With only five players scoring double figure goals, this Rangers squad is in need of a breakout playoff performance. Thankfully for them, they have the pieces they need. Nash, who scored 21 in the regular season has what it takes to step up big in his first playoff experience with his new team. I believe Ryan Callahan will be the difference for NYR in this series against the Caps.

Prediction - This series will be electric. The question remains: Will the Rangers finally find their potential and put together a run? Or will Czar Alex propel Washington one step further in the 2013 season? I believe it will come down to the wire with Henrik Lundqvist being the difference maker. Ovechkin scores 4 goals in the series but can't put the team on his back. The Rangers will find ways to get past the slightly above average goaltending of Washington and take the series in 7.

NYR 4-3

Bruins #4 vs. Maple Leafs #5
Season Series - Boston 3-1
This is the other series in the East to keep a close eye on. Boston seriously struggled down the stretch and Toronto has stayed consistent all season long. The Leafs may not be the best team in the East but they are certainly no team to count out. Look for Lupul and Grabovski to have big series for Toronto. Whether or not Reimer is ready for the playoff spotlight may be the difference for the Maple Leafs in this series.

Photo Cred: www.mapleleafshotstove.com

The Bruins are one of the most talented teams in the league. With a roster littered with offensive studs, the Bruins are the second best team in the East. However, as I stated earlier, hockey is all about streaks. Boston has struggled mightily down the stretch and I think those struggles continue into the playoffs. This series is my big upset. Now, a 5 over a 4 might not seem incredibly bold but in reality this Bruins team should have won the Northeast. If Horton and Lucic can't get going (both combined for only 20 goals on the year), I'm going to take Toronto in this one. Should Boston win? Probably. However, Toronto has been down and out for almost 10 years and this Canadien city is ready for a revival. Reimer plays his heart out, James Van Riemsdyk shines in the playoffs and the Leafs upset the Bruins in Boston in Game 7.

Toronto 4-3

Agree or disagree with any of these picks? Let me know. You don't have to be nice.